Essendon sent a message to the competition that the 2009 Bombers are genuine finals contenders after the Bombers recorded a comprehensive 69-point demolition of Carlton in front of a bumper crowd of 83,407 at the MCG on Friday night.After an even first quarter, the Blues got on top in the early stages of the second term, and at the 15 minute mark led by 14 points. But from there it was all Essendon, with the Bombers regaining the lead late in the quarter before restricting the Blues to just 2 goals in the second half. It became a Bomber procession, with Andrew Welsh picking up 33 possessions for the night; while Tayte Pears not only kept Fevola goal-less after quarter time but drifted forward to set up some goals. And in the closing stages of the game, Andrew Lovett sent the crowd into raptures with a spectacular high-flying mark.Angus Monfries with 5 goals was the leading goalscorer for the night, while Matthew Lloyd kicked 4. Eddie Betts with 3 was Carlton's top goalkicker.Essendon 2.4 8.5 14.9 21.10 (136)Carlton 2.3 7.7 8.9 9.13 (67)Goals : Essendon - A Monfries 5, M Lloyd 4, A Lovett 3, S Lucas 3, H Skipworth 2, A Davey, B Stanton, K Reimers, P Ryder. Carlton - E Betts 3, B Fevola 2, B Gibbs, C Judd, K Simpson, S O'hAilpin.Best : Essendon - A Welsh, P Ryder, A Lovett, B Stanton, K Reimers, B Prismall. Carlton - B Gibbs, M Murphy, C Judd, A Carazzo, B Fisher, E Betts.Injuries : Essendon - J Watson (ankle). Carlton - P Bower (knee).Reports - Nil. Umpires - S Wenn, M Stevic, S McBurney.Crowd - 83,407 at MCG.

Collingwood continued on their winning ways, the Magpies extending their winning streak to 5 games with an 84-point flogging of Fremantle at the MCG.It was a blistering start by Collingwood. The Magpies kicked 5 goals in the opening 10 minutes, and as Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich left the field with a leg injury, it looked like this would be a long and hard afternoon for the Dockers. But Fremantle kept fighting, and outscored the Magpies for the remainder of the half, and with a 21 point deficit at the long break at least looked still in the contest.But the third term saw the Magpies reassert themselves, and by the final quarter the Dockers' resistance had ended and the Magpies ran through 10 goals for the quarter. The final winning margin was 84 points, with 13 Collingwood players getting on the goalkicking last, 9 of them with multiple goals. The result sees the Magpies consolidate their position in the top 4, while Fremantle's 6th straight loss sees confidence further eroded as their season lurches further into disaster.Collingwood 6.3 10.6 16.9 26.13 (169)Fremantle 2.2 7.3 11.5 13.7 (85)Goals : Collingwood - J Anthony 4, B Dick 3, T Cloke 3, A Didak 2, C Dawes 2, D Beams 2, L Brown 2, P Medhurst 2, T Lockyer 2, D Swan, H O'Brien, S Cox, S Wellingham. Fremantle - D Headland 3, A Foster 2, B Peake 2, A Sandilands, B Schammer, M Pavlich, P Haselby, S Dodd, S Thornton.Best : Collingwood - D Swan, A Didak, D Beams, T Cloke, P Medhurst, T Lockyer. Fremantle - A Sandilands, P Haselby, G Ibbotson, P Duffield, D Headland, G Broughton.Injuries : Collingwood - L Davis (flu) replaced in selected side by P Medhurst. Fremantle - A Grover (thigh), M Pavlich (calf), C Pearce replaced in selected side by D Headland.Reports - Nil. Umpires - J Schmitt, M Vozzo, H Ryan.Crowd - 44,114 at MCG.

The Adelaide mid-season purple patch continued when the Crows won their 5th straight game, downing Sydney by 16 points at AAMI Stadium on Saturday. Disappointment and concern for the Swans was not just the loss, their 4th in succession that sees them at serious risk of falling out of contact with the final 8 contenders; but also another brain explosion by full forward Barry Hall, who was reported for a shot on Ben Rutten during a critical passage of play during the third quarter.It was one of three reports for the Swans, but Hall's report was of particular concern; not just because of his drawcard status at the Swans but also with his past record which will see a significant loading attached to his suspension should he plead guilty or by found guilty by the tribunal.The Swans, after a strong second quarter, turned into half time with a 19-point lead and hopes of an upset. But the third quarter saw the match swing Adelaide's way, with the Crows scoring 6 goals to 2 to take the lead. And with the home crowd behind them, once the Crows had a sniff there would be no letting go.Adelaide 1.3 3.4 9.7 12.13 (85)Sydney 2.2 6.5 8.6 10.9 (69)Goals : Adelaide - J Porplyzia 4, K Tippett 2, N Van Berlo 2, T Edwards 2, A McLeod, S Stevens. Sydney - B Hall 4, B Kirk, J Crouch, K Jack, M Mattner, R Brabazon, R Shaw.Best : Adelaide - B Vince, J Porplyzia, R Shirley, M Doughty, C Knights, N Van Berlo. Sydney - M Mattner, R Shaw, A Goodes, B Hall, B Kirk, K Jack.Injuries : Adelaide - A Otten (cut head), B Moran (jarred knee), I Maric (cut head). Sydney - Nil.Reports : Sydney - J White for rough conduct on B Vince in the first quarter, B Hall for striking B Rutten in the third quarter, H Grundy for high conduct on N Bock.Umpires - H Kennedy, S McLaren, M Nicholls.Crowd - 38,064 at AAMI Stadium.

Brisbane continued their winning streak, further building to their hopes of appearing in their first finals series since 2004, when the Lions dominated Melbourne. The final margin was 55 points, but this flattered the Demons as the Lions had led by 74 points at three-quarter time before putting their cue back in the rack.The insipid performance by Melbourne was underlined in the middle 2 quarters, in which the Demons failed to kick a goal. During that time, the Lions scored 10 goals in a clinical performance that left the Demons looking for answers and finding none.The twin towers of Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw were again pivotal to the Lions' success. Between them they scored 9 goals, more than the entire Melbourne team. The Lions are sitting comfortably in 5th place, while the Demons with just 1 win for the season find themselves still unable to find a way off the bottom.Brisbane 3.4 9.7 13.13 16.15 (111)Melbourne 2.0 2.2 2.5 8.8 (56)Goals : Brisbane - J Brown 5, D Bradshaw 4, D Rich 2, J Polkinghorne 2, C Stiller, J Roe, J Sherman. Melbourne - C Sylvia 2, A Davey, C Bruce, C Morton, L Jurrah, N Jones, R Robertson.Best : Brisbane - L Power, J Brennan, J Brown, J Adcock, C Stiller, S Black. Melbourne - C Bruce, A Davey, C Sylvia, J Grimes, B Green, C Morton.Injuries : Brisbane - Nil. Melbourne - M Bate (virus) replaced in selected side by N Jones.Reports - Nil. Umpires - C Donlon, S Jeffery, S Hay.Crowd - 23,750 at Gabba.

It's been a season to forget so far for West Coast, but the Eagles pulled off a rare highlight with a 20- point victory over Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval, a result that means the Hawks will have to work hard in the weeks ahead to get to the top 8 to defend their premiership title.Heavy rain, a muddy ground and a slippery ball made conditions difficult, but the Hawks had the advantage of the wind in the first term and finished 12 points ahead at the first change. But the Eagles, with a 6 goals to 2 second term went to the rooms at half-time 14 points clear. The Hawks came back in the third quarter, and at the final change had a narrow 3-point lead.With the game in the balance, second-game player Nic Naitanui put his hand up and established himself as a superstar of the future. Three goals in the final quarter tilted the balance of the game West Coast's way, and the Eagles took control in the latter stages to pull off a morale-boosting victory.West Coast 2.3 8.6 10.9 16.11 (107)Hawthorn 4.3 6.4 11.6 13.9 (87)Goals : West Coast - M LeCras 4, N Naitanui 3, J Kennedy 2, A Embley, B Ebert, B McKinley, D Kerr, D Wirrpanda, M Brown, T Stenglein. Hawthorn - J Roughead 5, L Franklin 4, M Osborne 2, C Brown, S Mitchell.Best : West Coast - M Priddis, D Wirrpanda, Q Lynch, A Embley, M LeCras, M Rosa. Hawthorn - S Mitchell, B McGlynn, B Sewell, J Roughead, C Bateman, J Lewis.Injuries : West Coast - Nil. Hawthorn - M Williams (knee), X Ellis (cork), S Gilham (virus) replaced in selected side by R Schoenmakers, S Dew (quad) replaced in selected side by C Stokes.Reports - Nil. Umpires - C Hendrie, S Ryan, T Pannell.Crowd - 31,441 at Subiaco Oval.

Geelong remain undefeated so far in 2009 after the Cats recorded a comfortable 34-point victory over Port Adelaide in the early Sunday game at Skilled Stadium. The final margin flattered Port Adelaide, with the Cats leading by 63 points at three-quarter time before easing the pressure in the last quarter, saving their energy for next week's blockbuster clash with St Kilda.From the opening the Cats looked in awesome touch, kicking 7 goals to 1 in the opening term. Leading all day, the Cats extended their margin in the third quarter. Again it was their midfield who was the dominant force, with Gary Ablett racking up 36 possessions, Joel Corey 34 and Paul Chapman 33 to run the Power out of the game.After a promising opening to the season, Port Adelaide have slipped out of the top 8 and need a win to get their 2009 campaign back on track. But for the victorious Cats, 2009 continues to go from strength to strength and the much-anticipated clash with St Kilda next weekend promises to be a beauty.Geelong 7.5 10.9 16.13 18.14 (122)Port Adelaide 1.1 6.3 7.4 13.10 (88)Goals : Geelong - S Byrnes 4, G Ablett 2, J Bartel 2, P Chapman 2, C Ling, C Mooney, D Milburn, J Corey, J Kelly, S Johnson, T Hawkins, T Varcoe. Port Adelaide - W Tredrea 3, B Ebert 2, J Carr 2, J Davenport 2, T Logan 2, J Westhoff, R Gray.Best : Geelong - G Ablett, P Chapman, D Milburn, J Corey, J Kelly, S Byrnes. Port Adelaide - D Rodan, J Davenport, W Tredrea, K Cornes, N Krakouer, J Carr.Injuries : Geelong - D Johnson (calf). Port Adelaide - Nil.Reports : Port Adelaide - P Burgoyne for rough conduct against J Kelly in the second quarter.Umpires - J Mollison, B Rosebury, B Margetts.Crowd - 21,142 at Skilled Stadium.

The Western Bulldogs maintained their grip on third place, while seeing North Melbourne's season deteriorate further, when the Bulldogs took a 22-point win on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.A high-scoring and entertaining first half saw the lead fluctuate, but the Bulldogs took a 2-point lead into the long break. Into the premiership quarter, the Kangaroos had a chance to kick away from the Bulldogs, but bad kicking saw them fail to take advantage of their opportunities; and a late rally by the Bulldogs saw the third-placed side regain the lead shortly before three-quarter time. And with the lead, there was to be no letting go in the last quarter, as injuries again plagued the Kangaroo campaign and the Bulldogs showed superior fitness and standing firm under pressure took control in the final term.Western Bulldogs 6.1 9.4 13.6 17.6 (108)North Melbourne 4.4 8.8 11.13 12.14 (86)Goals : Bulldogs - D Giansiracusa 3, J Akermanis 2, J Hill 2, N Eagleton 2, S Higgins 2, S Welsh 2, C Ward, D Cross, L Gilbee, M Hahn. North Melbourne - D Petrie 3, L Harding 3, A Swallow, C Garlett, C Jones, D Hale, H McIntosh, L Hansen.Best : Bulldogs - B Johnson, D Cross, R Hargrave, R Murphy, R Griffen, W Minson. North Melbourne - A Swallow, L Harding, D Petrie, B Harvey, M Firrito, H McIntosh.Injuries : Bulldogs - Nil. North Melbourne - B Warren (broken leg), D Pratt (broken nose).Reports - Nil. Umpires - S Meredith, R Findlay, R Chamberlain.Crowd - 31,470 at MCG.

The much-anticipated St Kilda v Geelong clash next week will feature both teams coming into the match undefeated. The Saints ensured their unbeaten status was maintained with a 56-point victory over a disappointing Richmond in the twilight game at Docklands.Such was St Kilda's dominance that the Tigers were unable to score in either of the two middle quarters, the first time a team has been held scoreless in successive quarters since Fitzroy against Essendon in the opening round of 2005.Strangely, the Tigers started the better side and held St Kilda goal-less in the opening quarter, but for all their hard work were only able to manage 2 goals. And that lead was to take just 3 minutes to evaporate as the Saints clicked into gear at the start of the second quarter. The Tigers were not to score until the final quarter, and by then the Saints had already got out to a 60-point advantage. With the game comfortably won the Saints conserved their energy in the last quarter, and the Tigers won the term, but it was too little too late for the struggling Tigers; Jade Rawlings' golden run coming to a close after just one game.St Kilda 0.3 5.5 11.9 13.14 (92)Richmond 2.3 2.3 2.3 5.6 (36)Goals : St Kilda - J Koschitzke 5, N Riewoldt 2, A McQualter, A Schneider, B Goddard, J Geary, L Ball, N Dal Santo. Richmond - M Morton 2, B Cousins, J Riewoldt, T Hislop.Best : St Kilda - B Goddard, J Gram, L Hayes, L Ball, J Geary, N Dal Santo. Richmond - S Tuck, D Jackson, R Tambling, J Riewoldt, N Foley, B Deledio.Injuries : St Kilda - M Hudghton (ankle). Richmond - L McGuane (leg), A Collins (illness) replaced in selected side by J Oakley-Nicholls.Reports - Nil. Umpires - C Kamolins, M Avon, S Grun.Crowd - 38,196 at Docklands.